The Therapeutic Management of an Autistic Child's Phobia Using Laughter as the Anxiety Inhibitor

Abstract

This paper describes the treatment of a 4½-year-old autistic boy who exhibited phobic responses to the sounds of flushing toilets. He was successfully treated using reinforcement and laughter: the latter service as an anxiety inhibitor. At 3- and 6-month follow-ups the child was symptom-free.